Under-fire Kotoko Chairman Defends Policy On Player Sales

Asante Kotoko chairman Dr K.K Sarpong has defended his transfer policy in the face of intense criticisms following the side’s exit from the CAF Champions League.

Dr Sarpong’s administration has come under intense attack from irate fans and sections of the media for what they say is the excessive sale of quality players in recent times.

Kotoko have sold within a year of winning the Ghana Premier League their best player; Daniel Nii Adjei, left and right back Baba Abdul Rahman and Yaw Frimpong respectively, central defender Awal Mohammed and striker Ben Acheampong.

This, the critics claim was one main reason why the side bundled out of the CAF Champions League before reaching its target of at least a group stage qualification.

But the beleaguered club chairman explains several extraneous factors go into the decision to sell a player.

“Selling players comes from several angles not only from my initiative,” he told Accra-based Hot FM.

“We sell players sometimes because it is a clause inserted in their contract that after a number of years the player will leave.

“Another example is the fact that Daniel Nii Adjei for instance was earning 500 Ghana cedis a month during his time with Kotoko.

“And all of a sudden he gets an offer paying him about 20-30 thousand Ghana cedis a month and you expect the player to stay?

“Some of these players are sole breadwinners of their families, some pay school fees and others.

“So with such an offer, it will be very difficult for the club to hold onto your players.”